Need a EDC fixed blade... Suggestions?

Does your particular area matter at all? Like will a more rural area of VA look on it differently than lets say a very urban area? How can I anonymously contact a local PD or magistrate for info on this?
 
Don't overlook the Fred Perrin fixed blade from Spyderco. It has a five inch blade, kydex sheath with teklok, and VG10 steel. It's light, flat and very sharp. The handle is very ergonomic and it balances perfectly on the deep finger choil, which will definitely keep your hand from sliding onto the blade. I wear mine IWB by removing the teklok, passing a short length of break away chain through the top two holes of the sheath and snapping it around a belt loop. You should be able to find it on the web for around $80 - 85 dollars. It is a great knife with Spyderco quality.

On reading your Virginia statute, I should point out that it does have a bowie shaped blade. The Fred Perrin design it copies is called the Street Bowie. Oh well.
 
Greko knife at knifeart:eek: Great price!

Bud Nealy designs some blades that make my teeth sweat. I put handle slabs on a blank from texas knife. I believe this is a Boker/Nealy Specialist. It doesn't really need the slabs if you wrap it in para cord. Cost 29.00

Kydex sheaths are pretty user friendly too.:)
 
The CRKT Kasper/Polkowski Companion should meet all of ThePatriot29's requirements except for one - good steel (the blade is AUS6). I like it for the very deep finger grooves, which should provide a more secure grip than most small knives. The original Kasper Companion is made from better steel, but the price is way over ThePatriot29's budget.
 
The CRKT Kasper/Polkowski Companion does indeed have a blade steel that will not hold an edge as long as some of the more expensive steels. I don't think it will matter in a dedicated defensive blade, unless you plan on cutting up bad guys all day long and anticipate dulling the blade before you can get home to sharpen it.

It does have a corrosion resistant steel, which may be more important in a seldom used defensive blade than edge holding ability. It is a quality knife at an affordable price. For concealed carry you may have to invest in another sheath, as the supplied sheaths may rattle a bit. Even with another sheath you should come in below the requested price point.

Another posibility is something like a Rapalla fillet knife. They are inexpensive and formidable. Thin boning knives for kitchen use often have handles incorporating a guard or depression to prevent the hand sliding up on the blade. They may have an advantage over the fillet knife in that respect. It's true, thin kitchen knives are not as macho as a custom defensive knife, and can't be used to pry open windows.

Or you could pack a small khukuri. Some are made with blades of 7" or less.
 
Mr. Wallace has made a point which interests me very much. Higher grades of stainless steel are usually distinguished by their better edge holding, but should this really be a consideration in a defensive blade? After all, one is not likely to do alot of cutting, if any, with such a blade.

Concerning the Kasper/Polkowski Companion knife, one can spend an extra $240 over the price of the CRKT model and get the custom original, made from ATS-34. Certainly there must be other differences besides the blade steel, but how important are these differences? In particular, are there circumstances where ATS-34 will save one's life where AUS-6 would fail?
 
John Greco knives were mentioned above. I would take a look at the CQC Tactical Knives website for the latest models, which are made with thinner stock.

I own an older Greco Companion, which has a five inch blade made from 1/4 inch stock. I bought it for a utility knife, but found that it is too heavy and ungainly for household use. The newer models are thinner so maybe weight will not be a problem with them.
 
Given your stated requirements I would respectfully suggest that you give Bob Dozier's knives a very, very close look. Bob makes awesome using knives that seem to stay sharp forever. His sheaths are among the best and his prices are very competitive (think custom quality at mass produced prices).

AJ
 
Originally posted by ThePatriot29
Well, I have a Smith and Wesson SWAT that I carry everyday. I have been told that for defense, a fixed blade is much better, and wanted to look into getting and "entry level" fixed blade. I won't end up carrying it everyday, but sometimes under a suit coat, or a leather jacket. Does having a CCW liscence change matters any on legality?
Click to expand...

If you have a CCW license, why carry a knife for self defense?
In most states, the CCW license allows you to carry a firearm, but not a concealed knife.
Rev Pete also made a good point, if a defensive style fixed blade is illegal to carry, and a large folder is legal, I would go with a quality folder.
If you really do want to carry a fixed blade, John Greco's knives mentioned earlier give the most bang for the buck.
 
Just a clarification: I don't have a CCW yet, but was asking the question to see if it affected matters when I do get one.
 
Well, This is a very personal topic and as you see, there are a myriad of responses, none are wrong. I personally went through a similar ordeal in trying to choose a folder and an EDC fixed blade with a certain budget in mind.....you can go crazy and spend hundreds of Dollars on super duper custom-cum-special-steel knives, ATS34,....etc etc etc or whatever.

I eventually settled for a CRKT Polkowski-Kasper Companion. Check it out at www.crkt.com. It has a 4" blade of AUS6 steel...this is misquoted on the web site...a ruler does not lie...they claim it is smaller. It retails at stores for under US$40 and it is the best bang for your buck in an EDC fixed blade period!!!! I also bought the CRKT Ryan 7 folder incidentally. Both knives cost me under the equivalent of US$90!!!

I researched this extensively with experts in both knives and self defense. This is what I gleaned from my research, which every forumite should bear in mind when it comes to "fighting" or "tactical" or "self defense" knives:

1. A fighting knife is the knife you have on you when you get into a fight.....period! BTW there is no such thing as a "fighting" knife.

2. It is highly unlikely...no it is virtually never going to happen that the average citizen is going to use any form of blade to cut someone else....on purpose that is.

3. The average citizen will never get to use a knife of any sort for self defense, or for fighting etc.

4. Blade steel is irrelevant for a knife to be used for cutting or stabbing someone else.....heck a plastic knife will achieve this...and yes, they are available, making airport security very nervous.

5. The terms "fighting" and "tactical" etc etc used for knives, are merely a marketing ploy by the maker/s. The real McCoys are only used by military, paramilitary etc. etc.

6. A gun is more effective and easier to carry for self defense than any knife could ever wish to be.
7. Knives are merely tools or ornaments or both.

8. Knives are appreciated for their form and shape.

9. Knives are important for people in general or else this forum would not exist :D

10. It gives people something else to collect...LOL. BTW I love knives and have many of my own including fixed blade and folders. This includes the ubiquitous Swiss Army Knife.....Swiss Champ.
 
Patriot, looking at the "dirk or dagger language" I'd stay away from anything remotely resembling a fighter. I like Greco knives but the two skinners shown have false upper edges which may be a problem. I'm going with a very unconventional recommendation but if you ever end up in court you may thank me. How about the Buck 103 Skinner? Almost no point to speak of and not excessively large blade. No good for stabbing but so what? In a defensive situation a few quick slashes to draw blood may be all you need to convince an aggressor to go elsewhere. And remember self defense calls for a proportional response and requires you to stop when the aggressor breaks off the attack.

phantom4
 
Cutlery Shoppe is running another group of Gryphon M-10's. Good knife, great sheath. When I got mine I was surprised at how thick the spine was. Course, the modified dagger grind still brings the point down to something that could break if you abused it.
 
Phantom4 makes a good point. It is a good idea to carry a knife which one can argue in court was carried solely for utility. Otherwise, a liberal prosecutor or lawyer will try to portray you as a person looking for a fight, since you were carrying a fighting knife.

It is a damned shame things are this way. There is nothing morally wrong and there should be nothing illegal about carrying a weapon for self-defense. But in the perverse, upside down morality of liberals, the victim becomes the criminal.
 
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